The series

• Change is possible in Christ
• Change happens when our minds are renewed
• Change happens when we bring order to our world
  • In seven days, God gave us the model for bringing order

Psalm 1:1–3 (NLT) — 1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

Setup:

• This verse:
  • You are HAPPY when you don’t plant around idiots, but when plant in the Word of the Lord, you will be planted in a healthy place, producing fruit each season. 
• What is producing fruit in your world?
  • What’s coming OUT of you, What’s AROUND you.
  • The ol’ NATURE and NURTURE idea
  • Coming home from England and feeling like I have a green thumb.
  • Plants are finicky. Front porch, back porch, side porch. Water once a week. Calcium in the soil. Trim the leaves. Downloaded an app and pointed it at the plant and it said what was wrong with the plant.
• Where you PLANT, you will PRODUCE.
• Change your world, by changing your environment
  • The CONTENT you are CONSUMING
  • The CONVERSATIONS you are ENGAGING 
  • The CROWD you are RECEIVING 
  • The CYCLES you are REPEATING
• Your environment is more important than your will power
• Your environment is creating your future
• Your environment is impacting your health 
• Your environment is within your ability to change

Uphill and Downhill environments

• On mount Corcovado in Rio De Janeiro, there stands the statue of Christ the Redeemer.
• I saw a bicyclist
• If you are a Christian and you are having a hard time, you may be going uphill.

5 Uphill environments:

1. An IMMORAL environment 
   1. Environments where there is active/belligerent/unrepentant sin, is a hard place to flourish. 
   2. Lot chose the city of Sodom and it was hard on him. 
   3. We live in an immoral world. It’s hard to not be around it, but you can be wise in your home environment. 
   4. Being in an immoral environment can grieve your spirit
2. A TEMPTING environment 
   1. Joseph found himself in a tempting environment. There is only one thing to do in a tempting environment, run. 
   2. 2 Timothy 2:22 (NLT) — 22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
   3. When you are feeling a luring, a drawing, into sin, RUN.
3. A DOUBTING environment 
   1. A doubting environment can be an uphill battle. The faith walk is BELIEVING GOD FOR EVERYTHING. When you are around people who believe God for nothing, it can be difficult. 
   2. In Mark 5, Jesus had to kick out the mourners and criers. 
   3. In Nazareth, Jesus could do no mighty work. 
4. A CONTENTIOUS environment 
   1. Strife is disorienting. Disunity is like quicksand. 
   2. James 3:16 (NLT) For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
5. A FOOLS environment 
   1. Much of the wisdom books is about the penalty of hanging out with foolish people. 
   2. Jim Rohn says that you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. 
   3. Proverbs 13:20 (NLT) Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble

We’ve identified 5 uphill, now let’s look at 5 downhill environments. 

5 Downhill environments 

1. An ORDERLY environment 
   1. When you clean up your environment, you will be shocked how your mind starts to think. 
   2. When you put something in order, you will be able to:
      1. Think clear
      2. Work effectively 
      3. Feel completely relaxed
      4. Rest well
2. A PRESENCE environment 
   1. Your goal is to create an environment where God and man coexist! 
   2. The garden of Eden, the promised land, Obed Edom's house
   3. Cleanse your house from things that are immoral
   4. Do the daily disciplines in your home.
   5. Put on worship music
3. A STRATEGIC environment
   1. Exert your will-power to create a strategic environment.
   2. You shouldn’t always create environments of convenience and comfort, sometimes you should create environments that help you be the person you want to be. 
      1. Don’t put the remote right next to your bed.
      2. Don’t put cookies on the counter.
      3. Don’t fill your refrigerator with junk.
   3. Set yourself up for success
      1. Put your Bible on your nightstand.
      2. Set your workout clothes out so you want to put them on.
      3. Put some fruit in the kitchen.
4. A POSITIVE environment
   1. Faith-filled - It’s easy to go downhill when you’re filled with expectation that God will do something. 
   2. Joyful - Rejoice in the Lord. David had to do this at Ziklag. 
   3. Encouraging - Paul and Silas had to encourage one another 
5. A MISSIONAL environment
   1. One that is hurting - Go where there is pain
   2. One that is stretching - Go where you can be stretched 
   3. Missional environments make you feel purposeful and like your life has meaning. 

Those plants in my yard

• Don’t have legs
• You do have legs! You can plant yourself wherever you want. 
• Stop making hard on yourself, plant yourself in good soil. 

Plant yourself

• In the house of the Lord
• With the people of the Lord
• With the ways of the Lord.
• Psalm 1:3 (NLT) — 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.